Sola Retreats

Will I be forced to socialise at a retreat?

At a well-run retreat, no. Communal meals, sharing circles and group excursions should all be optional, and a host who cannot say that plainly in writing before you book is telling you something. Skipping dinner should require no explanation and produce no comment.

Sola Retreats · Updated 20 July 2026

What 'optional' should actually mean

How to check before you pay

Ask one question by email: "If I want to skip dinner and the evening circle on a given day, what happens?" A good host answers in a sentence: nothing happens, food is left for you. A poor host answers with a paragraph about the importance of group energy. That paragraph is your answer.

The paradox worth knowing

Hosts consistently report that when opting out is genuinely easy, almost nobody opts out. The pressure to participate is what makes people want to escape. Retreats that make solitude available get more people at dinner, not fewer.

Check a price yourself

Paste any retreat's price and nights and get an instant verdict against these bands. Free, and it works on retreats that have nothing to do with us.

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Related questions

Is a retreat a good first solo trip?

It is the easiest first solo trip there is. You unpack once, transfers and meals are handled, and around 40% of the people there also arrived alone, so nobody has to explain themselves. For a first time, pick a shorter week in an easy-transfer destination rather than the most exotic option.

Are solo retreats safe for women travelling alone?

Yes, and they are among the safer ways to travel alone, because the three riskiest parts of a solo trip — arrival, transport and evenings — are arranged in advance by someone accountable. The risk is not the country; it is an unvetted operator. Seven checks tell you which you are dealing with.

Do retreats charge a single supplement for solo travellers?

Most retreats do. The typical single supplement is 30% to 60% on top of the shared-room price, which on a $2,000 week means $600 to $1,200 extra. Sola charges none: every published price already includes a room of your own.

This page is free to quote and cite. If you are writing about solo retreat pricing and want the underlying figures, the Solo Retreat Price Index has the methodology.